You are here:

Amazon to sell ad-supported Kindle

Customers can save $25 if they tolerate screensaver advertisments

Amazon has unveiled an ad-supported version of the Kindle eBook reader, knocking $25 off the price.

From 3 May, Amazon will sell a "Kindle with Special Offers" for $114. It will be exactly like a regular Wi-Fi Kindle, except Amazon will run ads on the screensaver page and along the bottom of the home screen - but not inside books.

"We're working hard to make sure that anyone who wants a Kindle can afford one," said Jeff Bezos, Amazon.com CEO.

The first companies to buy screensaver ads are Buick, Olay and Visa.

Alongside the more standard advertisements, Amazon will also list "special offers" such as a half-price Amazon gift card, discounted MP3 albums, and free books.

Amazon also announced AdMash, an application and website that lets Kindle users vote on their favourite "sponsored" screensavers, to let the company figure out what sorts of images users are happy to see on their e-ink screens.

Read more

Comments

The slightly more expensive ad-free version thanks very much.How long before they think you have to view an ad every 10 pages. Just what you need in the middle of a suspense-filled final chapter, or technical manual.